Automatic ice-scoring machine



" Feb, 5, 1924 G. R. THEIS A AUTOMATIC ICE SCORING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 flag G. R. THEIS Feb, 5, 1924;

AUTOMATIC ICE SCORING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1925 75 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ewen/{0 r: @zmazfi 25 5/5 Feb 5 19240 1A3fi23 G. R. was

AUTOMATIC ICE SCORING MACHINE oki (o x 0) (o i 4% Q Fatented Feb. 5. llZd.

UNHFE GEORGE 3R1. TREES, OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOB TO SHAPE? FOUNDRY, INC OF WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATEC HIE-SCORING MACHINE.

Application filed tiarch c, 1923. Serial No. 628,15.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. Trims, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winchester, in the county of Frederick and State of Virginia, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements'in Automatic Ice-Scoring Machines, of which the followin is a specification.

y present invention relates to improvements in ice scoring machines designed for automatic operation and for the purpose of scoring or partially cutting plate ice in order that the scored plate may uickly and with facility be separated intob ocks of ice for the retail trade.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character by means of which the plate ice, usually artificial ice, may be scored or partially cut with a plurality of vertically disposed kerfs and a single longitudinally extending kerf. For this purpose I utilize in connection with two rotary cutting mechanisms, a series of cooperating longitudinally disposed conveyors nd a vertical conveyor or elevator, whereby the plate of ice is fed to the machine, conveyed therethrough and scored, and the scored plate is delivered or discharged from the machine with regularity and precision.

In the accompanying drawings l have illustrated one complete example of a ower operated ice scoring machine in whic the necessary elements of the machine are com bined and arranged according to one mode have thus far. devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. machine of the invention is designed fer: use with the standard size of plate ice for cutting five kerfs transversely of the plate and a single kerf longitudina ly of the :iate.

E Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an ice scoring machine, electrically operated, and involving the physical embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view chine. a t

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view showing the longitudinal conveyors, and theirconnections.

Figure 4 is a view of the machine in side of the maelevation as seen from the side opposite to that of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of the machine.

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view at the approximate center of the machine illustrating the elevator and operating mechanism therefor.

Figure 7 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view at the approximate center of the machine showing the mechanism of Figure 6.

In the preferred form of the invention as illustrated in the drawings a compactly arranged support for the operating parts of the machine is furnished by a metallic structure comprising three general sections designated "as a frame 1 at the front or feed end of the machine; frame 2 at the delivery end of the machine, and frame 3 at the approximate center of the machine. The structure thus formed provides means whereby successive plates of ice may pass in a straight line through the machine for longitudinal scoring and be elevated for transverse scoring, and delivered from the machine, after scoring.

The machine is compactly arranged and self contained and is o erated from an elec-.

tric motor 4 supporte as shown upon the top of the frame 2, which supplies power to the longitudinally disposed main shaft 5 journaled in suitable bearings in the frames 2 and 3 and offset somewhat at one side of the machine. A sprocket drive aS 6 is indicated for transmitting power from the motor to the main shaft, and a. vertically disposed shaft 7, supported in suitable journal bearings at one side of the frame 2 is revolved from the main shaft through the gear couple 8.

A transversely disposed counter shaft 9 is journaled in bearings nearthe base of the frame 2 and power is transmitted from the vertical shaft 7 to the transverse countershaft by means of the worm or screw. 10 on shaft 7 and the worm wheel 11 on shaft 9. From this counter shaft the longitudinal conveyers are operated for transferring the ice" plate through the machine, and a drive sprocket chain 12, located .at one side of the machine is driven from the sprocket wheel 13 on the shaft 9 and passes over a complementary sprocket wheel 1;; on the driven transverse shafi 15. The

' ings at the base of the frame 1 and is designed to operate a pair of endless feed chains 16 and 17. These chains are arranged in parallelism at the base of the frame 1.

and are provided with complementary lugs 18 for enga ement with the rear end of an ice plate. he feed chains pas around shafts 15 and 19, the latter being journaled at the front end of the frame 1 and provided with a pair of sprocket wheels 20 for the respective chains, and complementary, driving sprocket wheels 21 are provided on shaft 15 for the chains. The ice plates are fed successively and singly to the left end of these conveyer chains in Figure 1, and by thes chains are carried or conveyed to the central or intermediate frame portion 3 of the machine. Lateral guides 22 may be utilized if necessary to confine the forwardly moving ice plates in a central position on the conveyer chains as the plates are fed toward the center of the machine.

A second conveyer or endless chain 23 is located within the frames 2 and 3, disposed longitudinally of the machine, and arranged centrally thereof. One end of this chain passes over the sprocket wheel 24 on the shaft 15 between the two wheels 21 of the feed chain, and at the delivery end the chain 23 passes over a sprocket wheel 25 on the transverse shaft 26 journaled in the frame 2 at the delivery end. This delivery chain also has pushing lugs, as 27, similar to the lugs 18 of the feed chain, for operative contact at the rear end of the ice plate to move the latter. Laterally disposed supports and guides 28, in the form of metal strips are used, one at each side of the delivery chain 23 for the moving ice plates, and guides as 28 may also be used, if necessary at the inner sides of the delivery frame 2.

in its longitudinal passage through the machine, the ice plate is interrupted, and elevated, through the interposition of an elevator or ca e 29, which is supported and moves vertica ly in the central or intermediate f1 ame 3.

The cage is of rectangular shape and of the correct size to accommodate an ice plate or cake which is received from the feed conveyers 16, 17, by the delivery chain or conveyer 23. At its four lower corners the cage is fashioned with inwardly projecting, transversely disposed supporting angleplates 30, four in number. As best seen in Figure 6 these angle-plates project inwardly from the sides of the cage, toward the supports 28 and conveyer chain 23, but the length of the plates is such as. to leave the cage free to be lifted -or elevated past the guides and conveyer'chain. In normal position the supporting plates 30. are located below the upper or working flight of the conveyer chain 23, as seen in Figure 6.

At the top of the cage a suspending bar 31 is arranged longitudinally of the machine, and four guide posts or vertically disposed uprights 32 forming part of the frame 3 are used to ide the cage in its vertical movement. f re uired anti-friction rollers may be carried y the cage for contact with the osts 32. The cage is suspended by a lin 33 which is connected with a clevis 34 on the suspension bar 31 of the cage, and at its upper end the link is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 35 for connection with the lever 36. Said lever is pivoted as at 37 to the slotted link, and the lever is fulcrumed at 38 at th top of the frame 3.

A pitman 39, which is pivoted to the lever 36 at 40 extends downwardly toward the base of the machine at one side thereof and is operatively connected to a crank wheel 41 by the crank pin 42 in usual manner. The crank wheel is carried by the crank shaft 43 arranged transversely of the machine and adjacent to the countershaft 9, and the crank shaft is revolved from the countershaft by means of sprocket wheel 44 on shaft 43, a sprocket chain 45, and the sprocket wheel 45' on the countershaft 5 A counterweight 46 is connected to the cage by means of the cord or cable 47 which passes over guide pulleys 48 at the top of the frame 3, for counterbalancing the empty cage.

The cage elevates the plate of "ice, and the latter is scored or partially cut through by means of a number of rotary ice cutters or saws 50 carried by the main shaft 5 and revolving in vertical planes. After the plate has been scored transversely by the cutters 50, it is scored longitudinally throughout its length by the single rotary saw 51 fixed to revolve with the shaft 7 and revolving in a horizontal plane.

The machine is geared with such arrangement of parts as to insure movement of the feed conveyor chains 16 and 17, and delivery chain 23, at the same relative speed, while the operatin mechanism for the elevator moves at twice the relative s ed of these parts. Thus with all parts 0 the machine supplied with power from the motor, as de scribed and illustrated, the plates of ice are successively placed by suitable means and in suitable manner, on the front end of the feed chain and disposed longitudinally of the chain. The ice plate is conveyed by the feed chains and transferred therefrom to the s chronousl moving delivery chain 23. s soon as t e ice plate is transferred to the delivery chain, the operating mechanism of the elevator is timed to immediately lift the cage, which by its plates 30, lifts the plate of ice from the chain 23 w described.

The elevator or cage and its contained ice plate are lifted or elevated toward the series of rotary cutters or saws 50 which are located in the path of movement of the ice plate.

As the ice plate is lifted past the cutters the former is scored by the latter and five kerfs are cut transversely through a portion of the ice plate. Then by action of the crank and lever mechanism the cage with the scored ice plate is lowered, the supporting plates 30 of the cage passing to position below the upper flight of the chain 23, and the scored ice plate is deposited on the moving chain 23.' By means of the lugs 27 on the chain 23, which by predetermined arrangement arrive at the proper position to engage the ice plate at'the correct time, the transversely scored ice plate is moved with the chain 23 toward the horizontally disposed rotary saw 51. The rotary saw is positioned in the path of movement of a portion of the transversely scored ice plate, and is adjusted to position in order that a horizontal kerf is cut into the side of the ice plate, said kerf extending from end to end of the ice plate. The transversely and longitudinally scored plate is then delivered or deposited in suitable manner at the rear end of the delivery chain.

The slot 35 in the link 33 permits the necessary idle movement of the elevator operating mechanism while the scored ice plate is being transferred from the elevator to the delivery chain and while the succeeding ice plate is being delivered from the feed chain to the delivery chain for lifting by theelevator.

The longitudinal kerf extends from endto end of the ice plate but penetrates only through a portion of the plate, while the transverse kerfs penetrate only from one side a suitable distance toward the opposite side of the plate. After having been scored both transversely and longitudinally as described the ice plate may with convenience and facility be split into small blocks for use in refrigerators, ice chests, &c., a suitable tool being employed for the purpose.

While I have described and illustrated a complete physical embodiment of an operativeanechanism, it will be understood that changes and alterations may be made therein within the scope of my claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination in an ice scoring machine with a horizontally disposed conveyer for an ice late, of an elevator and means thereon for ifting said plate, means for raising and lowering said elevator, means in the path of movement of said plate as it is being elevated for transversely scoring said plate, and means located between said elevator and the delivery end of the conveyer for longitudinally scoring said ice plate.

2. The combination with a horizontally disposed conveyer for an ice plate, of an elevator adapted to straddle said conveyer and having means at its lower end to engage and lift a plate from said conveyer, means for raising and lowering said elevator, and means in the path of movement of said plate as it being elevated for scoring said plate.

3. The combination with a horizontally disposed conveyer for an ice plate, of an elevator adapted to straddle said conveyer and having means at its lower end to engage and lift a plate from said conveyer, means for raising and lowering said elevator, a

horizontally disposed shaft and operating means therefor, and a series of spaced cutters on said shaft for scoring said ice plate as it is being elevated.

4. In an ice scoring machine, the combination with a longitudinally moving conveyer, of an elevator adapted to straddle said conveyer, a pair of supporting plates on the elevator at each side of said conveyer adapted to engage and lift a plate from said conveyer, means for raising and lowering the elevator, and a series of spaced cutters in the path of movement of said plate as it is elevated for scoring said plate.

5. The combination with a continuously moving endless feed conveyer and a continuously moving endless delivery-conveyer alined therewith, of an elevator adapted to straddle one of said conveyors, means on the elevator for engaging and lifting an ice plate from the conveyer, a horizontally disposed main shaft and a series of rotary cutters thereon, a vertically'disposed shaft and a horizontal rotary cutter thereon, operative connections between said shafts, a motor for driving the main shaft, and means actuated from the vertically disposed shaft for raising and lowering the elevator.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GEORGE R. THEIS. 

